This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation. Basic Requirements: Citizenship: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) encourages any eligible non-citizens to apply. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Licensure: Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) OR Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), OR Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States), which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences. Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e., not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent or fee-basis. PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged; rather, they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision. Additionally, surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs. Language: Proficiency in spoken and written English. Experience: The individual must qualify to perform duties as a physician, have completed an accredited residency and/or possess experience which has qualified the individual to perform general duties and some specialized functions and procedures without supervision. Staff physicians may also include attendings who train physician residents assigned in facilities with residency training programs, and consultants who are capable of giving authoritative views and opinions on subjects in their field of medicine. Preferred Experience: Board Eligible/Board Certified Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Physical demands include repetitive body movements including the following: frequent reaching, standing, walking, and lifting of equipment and/or patients to provide patient care. This position requires extension of the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction including above or below shoulder level, during the provision of patient care, including retrieval of needed equipment, supplies and to make contact with the patient. This position requires the maintenance of an upright position to perform duties associated with patient care. This position is typically non-sedentary, and frequently involves being in the standing position. This position requires moving about accomplish tasks, such as assisting with patient ambulation and moving one patient area to the next. This position requires the raising of objects from a lower position to a higher position or the movement of objects horizontally position to position. Lifting may be done to move a patient from one location to the next, i.e.- from the exam table to the chair, and in the movement of equipment or supplies. ["This position is authorized to provide the right candidate with a sign-on bonus (maximum 15% of salary per year, up to four years), the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) to pay up to $200,000 in qualifying loans, and cover moving expenses to the Wilkes-Barre, PA area!! In addition, salary can go above the maximum amount shown if candidate meets annual performance metrics. The Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center is hiring one full-time Physician in Gastroenterology (GI). The Gastroenterologist Physician will treat and manage patients who have illnesses related to General Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. The incumbent will provide comprehensive care to include diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and education of patients with Gastroenterology conditions in the outpatient, inpatient and community living center settings. Major Duties and Responsibilities: Responsible for completing patient encounters, inpatient consults, notes, and correctly coding visits in accordance with coding guidelines Clinical duties will include diagnosing, treating and managing patients referred for management of GI disorders including liver disease, Hepatitis C, and liver transplants based on standard and customary methods and techniques in the outpatient setting Managing care for Hepatology patients Providing comprehensive care to include diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and education of patients with Gastroenterology conditions in the outpatient, inpatient and community living center settings Performing surgical procedures, with required expertise in in all areas of Gastroenterology including: Proctoscopy and/or flexible sigmoidoscopy - diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy Esophageal dilation - colonoscopy, including biopsy and polypectomy Therapeutic upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy Administration of Moderate Sedation - supervision/teaching of GI Fellows and Physician Assistants Providing consultation in an outpatient clinic setting and on inpatient wards Conducting telemedicine visits for patients in outlying clinics Share call duties with other providers Assume role in teaching GI Fellows and Internal Medicine Residents VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. EDRP Authorized: Authorized. (Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive). Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized (this can be a lump sum upon starting or paid annually over up to 4 years) Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Authorized (the VA will reimburse you for your moving costs) Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office Learn more. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8am to 430pm. Call rotation will be among other GI Physicians."]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
